I find some of your comments on players astonishing. Let me comment on the players you singled out:
Keane; England international, whom Ancelotti (a decent judge) rated. Improved last season after a second season wobble.
Coleman; A leader in the estimation of anyone who's worked with him. Even at this stage in his career is capable of making a difference in team effectiveness. Less able than he was to get up and down, but never downs tools.
Sigurdsson; I am very critical of him, because of his one-paced jogging around the pitch. Covers ground, but doesn't effect play enough. Still a creator, though, and has a skill-set that belies your donkey tag.
Davies; Ancelotti was extremely negative about him at first. But admitted he is a worker and someone who is always striving to improve. Again, the word from people who know and work with him is that he's a really good pro, if not the scouse Messi.
Gomes; On his day shows great technique and ball-holding. Slow on the turn, and his recovery pace, never a strength, has reduced since injury. Could be a stand-out in a slower league, but nobody has ever criticised his professionalism.
That was your next point, where you accused the whole squad of unprofessionalism. Really? Based on what? Do you see them in training? Do you see how they eat and live? I am always amazed how people can slag strangers with a public profile and accuse them of things of which they can have no knowledge.
I'd agree with a lot of your points on the management options, although Benitez is suspect in terms of temperament. He will go to war in public with his bosses, and constantly falls out with lots of people. But he is strong on discipline. It would still stick in my craw to support him, but that's what I'd do if appointed.
But rather than damn our whole squad, wouldn't it be more constructive to highlight leadership amongst the players as the missing ingredient? We're crying out for a Peter Reid, or an Andy Gray; someone to inspire and galvanise the players. I think we have a lot of nice, polite young men in the squad, and could do with more aggression and fire. But your character assassinations here just go too far for me. And maybe the leaders we need are there, waiting to be unleashed. Godfrey? Allan? Even the Tom Davies whom you clearly despise.
No manager could possibly follow your advice and regard (or maybe throw out?!) the whole squad as 'poor players'. There will need to be a mixture of coached improvement, positional/mindset changes, targeted replacement and tactical tweaks. I don't underestimate the challenge, hence I would favour someone more like Galtier or even Potter, noted for player development. But I couldn't let your damning post pass any more than I can always keep quiet when some foam-flecked fool next to me at the match kicks off on a player whose skills and athleticism he could only match in his dreams.
Keane isn’t an England international! He has played for England in the past yes, but he hasn’t been considered for the squad for ages, wish people would stop using that term for him.
